Electric cable supporting strap



P 21, 1954 w. A. HEALEY, JR 2,689,702

ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORTING STRAP Filed Sept. 11, 1951 I19. J Mm IVZZZHea Zefy Jr. INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

I Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORTING STRAP William A. Healey, J r., East Jordan, Mich. Application September 11, 1951, Serial No. 246,038

. 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to straps designed primarily for use in securing BX tubing or electric cables to supporting surfaces.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a strap of this character having means to removably secure the strap in position over the BX tubing or electric cable with which it is used, so that the usual securing nails employed in permanently securing the strap in position may be driven into the supporting surface without the necessity of holding the strap and securing nail during the driving operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a strap of this character having prongs formed integrally therewith, the prongs being so constructed and arranged that the sharp pointed ends thereof will be protected to prevent damage to the hands of the workman handling the strap.

A still further object of the invention is to provide spurs or prongs which are formed integral with the strap and capable of being bent over the nail used in permanently securing the strap to a supporting surface, if so desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strap constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view of the strap illustrating the prongs as formed in such a way that the pointed ends thereof will be guarded.

Fig. 3 is a view of the blank used in forming the strap.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of strap securing device.

Fig. 5 is an edge elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the body portion of the strap is indicated generally by the reference character 5 and as shown, the body portion is so constructed that it provides an offset portion 6 curved to be fitted over BX tubing electric cable or the like.

In forming the offset portion 6 of the strap, laterally extended ends 1 are provided, the ends 1 being designed to fit against the supporting surface where they are held in position by means of securing nails driven through the openings 8 formed in the laterally extended ends 1.

In forming the strap slits 9 are provided, the slits 9 extending inwardly from the opposite ends of the strap and at opposite sides of the strap, while slits I 0 are provided extending inwardly from the side edges of the body portion towards the ends of the body portion.

These slits 9 and ID are formed in such a way as to provide pointed prongs II and 12 at the opposite ends of the strap, the prongs being bent to positions as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2 of the drawing, the pointed ends l3 of the prongs l2 lying close to the edges of the body adjacent to the slot, to the end that the sharp pointed ends of the prongs will be guarded to prevent injury to the hand of the person handling the strap.

Because of the curvature of these prongs, it will be seen that when the strap is positioned over BX tubing or electric cable and the prongs driven into the supporting surface which is usually wood, the prongs will curve as they enter the wooden supporting surface, locking the prongs in position. The prongs will temporarily hold the strap in position to receive securing nails by means of which the strap is permanently secured to the supporting surface.

Should it be desired to use the strap against a metal or plastic surface the prongs may be bent flat in a manner as shown at the left in Fig. 2 of the drawing, which will permit the strap to be placed evenly on the surface to receive the securing nails.

In the form of the invention as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawing, the prong I4 is formed at one end of the clip and is normally bent upwardly with its pointed end directly opposite to the end of the strap to guard the pointed end against damaging the hand of the person using the strap.

In this form of the invention the strap engaging clip is indicated by the numeral l 5 and is designed to be positioned over a cable or BX tubing to hold the cable or BX tubing in position. It will of course, be understood that a securing nail is driven into the opening l6 of the clip to secure it in position.

It might be further stated that if desired the prongs may be bent upwardly over the heads of securing nails held in the openings of the strap, to secure the nails against accidental displacement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A strap for securing electric cables to a supporting surface, comprising a body formed of a length of strap metal curved intermediate its ends slits extending inwardly from the side edges 5 thereof, said slits providing prongs with sharp ends adapted to be driven into the supporting surface on which the strap is secured temporarily supporting the strap in position, said prongs being normally curved upwardly intermediate 10 their ends with their sharp ends directed downwardly and lying in a plane flush with the lower surfaces of the laterally extended portions, whereby the sharp ends of the prongs are normally guarded by said laterally extended securing members, and the ends of said laterally extended portions beyond said prongs lying in the plane flush with the lower surfaces of the .4 body, and said laterally extended portions having securing nail openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 807,232 Anderson Dec. 12,1905 1,089,878 ,Steinhauser Mar. 10, 1914 1,119,686 Davis Dec. 1, 1914 2,108,831 Snyder Feb. 22, 1938 2,310,434 Hyman Feb. 9, 1943 2,317,825 Teas Apr. 27, 1943 2,563,242 Hexdall Aug. '7, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 150,427 Switzerland of 1932 823,028 France of 1937 

